Even Dr. Drake and the witch, Francine, were amongst the mourners. There had been a commotion at first when word had reached them that Francine wanted to attend Carl’s funeral, but after Gabriel had explained how instrumental she’d been in Maya’s own survival, the vampires had voted to allow a witch amongst their midst. It was a first to be sure.
Zane and Yvette stood with a group of vampires Maya didn’t recognize. Colleagues from Scanguards she assumed. When she caught Yvette’s eye, she was surprised to see her smile at her and Gabriel, who held Maya’s hand. Maya smiled back and felt her heart swell. These people were her family now. They had all accepted her and fought for her so she could live. Carl had given his life protecting her.
Maya turned her attention back to Samson, whose speech came to an end.
“My friend, wherever you are now, I will never forget the years we had together.”
Two vampires lowered the coffin into the hole. Nobody moved until it had disappeared completely, then Samson took the shovel and tossed the earth after it. But he didn’t stop at the customary shovel-full of earth.
He continued.
Maya looked to her side, and Gabriel lowered his head to her. “He sired Carl. It is his duty to see he rests in peace. He dug the grave, he’ll fill it,” he whispered.
A single tear rolled down Maya’s cheek as she understood the meaning of Samson’s actions.
When the last grain of dirt had filled the grave, Samson put the shovel aside and spoke. “Good night, my friend.”
Then he walked away from the group. Delilah stayed back, making no attempt to follow him. When she approached Maya, she simply said, “He needs to be alone now. He’ll meet us at home.”
“You seem to understand him without many words,” Maya answered.
Delilah smiled and hooked her arm under Maya’s. “Gabriel, you don’t mind if I steal Maya for a few minutes, do you?” But she didn’t wait for his reply and pulled her away.
“Do you mind if we walk through the cemetery for a bit?” Delilah asked.
“Not at all.” Maya fell into step with her new friend.
For a moment, Delilah was silent. But then she came out with what she wanted to say. “I know it’s not your specialty, but I was hoping you’d consider continuing with medicine in a different field.”
Maya raised a surprised eyebrow. “What did you have in mind?”
“OB-GYN,” Delilah confessed. “It’s not like I can go to a human doctor anymore. Once they do tests on the fetus, they’ll realize that it’s not entirely human. And this won’t be our only child. We plan on having many. And then there’s Nina, of course.”
“Is she pregnant too?” Maya asked.
“Amaury wishes.” She rolled her eyes and laughed. “They haven’t quite fought this one out yet.”
“Nina and Amaury fight?”
“All the time.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. I thought they looked good together.”
Delilah laughed again. “They wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s what Amaury needs, a woman who doesn’t let him get away with anything. Besides, their make-up sex must be spectacular.”
Now Maya had to chuckle. “So you think she will finally give in and have children with him?”
“I don’t know. Only those two know. Either way, whatever they decide, it’ll work for them.”
“I hear talk about children,” a voice came from behind them.
They both turned to Francine, who had followed them. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I hoped to catch you without Gabriel listening in.”
“I’ll leave you two then,” Delilah offered.
Francine held up her hand. “No, please don’t. It’s only Gabriel I don’t want to know yet, otherwise he might get his hopes up and dashed later.”
Curiosity rose in Maya. “What is this about?”
“I analyzed your blood, and it’s confirmed. You are satyr, not that we didn’t already know that. But it led me to something else. Satyr females are fertile. They go into heat, just like you did.”
Maya held her breath. Was it possible?
“I’m not one hundred percent certain, but I believe that because you continued to go into heat even after you’d turned vampire, you might still be fertile.”
“Do you think it’s possible?” Maya asked the witch, trying to wrap her brain around it.
Delilah nudged her gently in the side. “Only one way to find out.” A soft smile curled around her lips as she winked.
Francine’s mouth widened into a grin. “I agree.”
Maya grabbed the woman’s hand and squeezed it. Her heart was too full to say anything, but Francine’s eyes told her she understood. And Maya knew exactly what she wanted to do right now.
Gabriel looked around the crowd still assembled around the grave.
p. Small groups had formed as everybody was talking about Carl and the things that had happened over the last few days. Maya was nowhere to be seen.
He stopped Zane as he walked past him. “Have you seen Maya?”
“She was talking to Thomas earlier.”
Gabriel nodded and looked for Thomas. He saw him standing with Eddie. Gabriel strode to him. “Do you know where Maya went? I haven’t seen her the last half hour.”
Could Thomas hear the desperate tone in his voice? God, he was getting pathetic. Being separated from her for even a few minutes filled him with worry and longing. Only when she was near him, did he feel at peace.
Thomas gave him a knowing look. “If that isn’t the look of a man in love.”
“Well, do you know where she went?” he repeated his question.
“You can find her at my house.”
Surprise flooded him. “What is she doing at your house?”
“I’ve offered it to her for the next three days. Eddie and I are supposed to go to Seattle for a training exercise, so the house will be empty. Samson’s place is too crowded night now. I figured the two of you would want some privacy, but if you don’t -“
“No, of course,” Gabriel replied hastily. “We want privacy.” He’d already wondered where they would
